ćJapan Official Fanclub Magazine Vol.2ćBTS My Biography ā Sugaās part
From a mischievous child to a young boy that loves to read
Born in Daegu, South Koreaās 3rd biggest city, which is located in the south. I lived there until I came to Seoul. I was just an ordinary child, I always liked to mess around. So, the teacher in nursery didnāt really like me (laughs). I remember that I always got told off āitās dangerous!ā I liked sports and I was especially good at running. From primary school to high school, I often got chosen to participate in the relay race. And I was above average in studying.
When I was a child, I really liked to go out to play with my friends. But as I grew up, I wasnāt that fond of going out to play. Even when I went out to play, we just met in the park, there were nothing to do though. I didnāt like that, so I usually stayed at home along on the weekends. My mother said: āyou should go out to see your friends sometimes.ā (laughs)
I liked to collect, so I collected a lot of books when I was a child. Because at the time, I wanted to be cultivated, I wanted to pretend that Iām civilized. So, I read many grown up novels, poetry anthology, literary works and news articles which didnāt suit meā¦ I read all genres of books. I donāt know why but from middle school onwards, I started to have the habit of reading from the back page. Now, I would read books sometimes. My reading speed is quick because I read chunks of writings.
First love in primary schoolā¦ I honestly donāt have any memories about that. Unlike Seoul, the place I live in is quite conservative. Especially in my school, itās rare to see boys talking to girls. Even being next to a girl made me shy, I didnāt even say a thing.
Encountered Hip-Hop
Started to compose music in middle school
I became interested in music when I was in 5th grade of middle school, I saw the Korean artist Stony Skunkās performance on TV. At the time, the genre Ballad was in its prime. If 18 teams were on a music show, 10 would be ballad groups, 5 would be idol groups and the remaining 3 would be other genres, Stony Skunk was one of the 3. Stony Skunk was really cool, their style is so different from the other groups. Iāve never been interested in music before that, but under the influence of Stony Skunk, I started to listen to Hip-Hop and Reggae music. I was also influenced by Epik High. MP3 players were getting popular at the time but I bought a Panasonic CD player and listened to music with that.
Thatās how I started to listen to music, and at the same time I started to write song as well. No one told me to do it, but I just felt like I should write something. I started to write rap lyrics in primary school and started to compose music in middle school. At the time, no one around me liked Hip-Hop. Although Hip-Hop is getting popular again in Korea but when I encountered Hip-Hop, it was a genre that was popular from a long time ago. You probably couldnāt find anyone who raps on the street, apart from me. My friends complained when I sang rap songs in the karaoke room. You know thereāre those special hand gestures in Hip-Hop, I got laughed at because I did those gestures.
Despite all of that, I continued to like Hip-Hop. I got to perform on the stage for the first time in 2nd of middle school. I performed Dynamic Duoās āGo Backā with my friends. I donāt like standing in front of many people but I just felt like I had to do it. I wanted to show off the rap that Iāve been practicing, although I wasnāt that great (laughs). Actually, I wanted to attend an arts high school, so I even produced classical music. But arts high school is too expensive so I attended an ordinary high school. I said to my father, āIāve made enough music, Iāll study properly when Iām in high school.ā But I never kept my promise (laughs).
Joined an underground crew in hometown, started to work as an underground rapper
I produced music in middle school for self-satisfaction, and I made songs in a hobby level. But after I changed the MIDI equipment, I started to make music properly. When I was in 1stĀ grade of high school, I made a person to listen to my song, he was a teacher to me and he really liked it. Then he introduced me to a Hip-Hop crew called āD-Townā and I joined in. That song had a New Age music feeling to it but the Hip-Hop beats were like Nujabes. For your information, the teacher that acknowledged me studied in Berklee College of Music and now heās a music director for movies.Ā After I joined the crew, I started to learn rap properly. Although Iāve been rapping since primary school but since no one around me raps, so I always thought I was the best (laughs).
This is how I started my underground activities in Daegu. It also made me realize that working in the underground scene is difficult to make a living. The hyungs that I worked with was 10 years older than me, there were even people over 30 years old. They had to work part-time along with making music, it looked so tiring. I really hated the fact that it was difficult to gather 100 audience when we try to hold a live performance. I thought āif I succeed, can I be the bridge between mainstream music and underground music?ā There are many people that makes great music in the underground scene, so I thought when I become famous, Iāll give them a better environment to work in and I want to let the world hear my hyungsā music.
And at the same time, I heard that BigHit Entertainment was holding an audition in Daegu. I only knew that producer Bang Shi Hyuk established the company but I still auditioned. The next day, I got the notice that I passed the audition. Later, someone told me that when he saw me, he immediately gave me a pass. Even though my rapping wasnāt really good at the time (laughs).
Came to Seoul, became a trainee
Ran counter to his (original) intention?!
I can still clearly remember the day that I came to Seoul, 7th November 2010, when I was in 2nd grade of high school. When I joined the company, my original intention wasnāt to become a rapper, I wanted to become a producer. So, I thought I didnāt need to dance, and I can leave rapping to those that are good at it. I thought I only need to be a producer. But that wasnāt the case (laughs). At the time, the company wanted to debut a group consists of rappers, rather than an idol group. However, the plan changed at the end. The members at the time were Rap Monster, J-Hope and I. Including Supreme Boi, i11evn hyung whoās currently working in the underground scene, and IRON hyung, who was one of the finalists in āShow Me The Money 3ā. I think if we debuted like that, our rapping would be outstanding but we would probably have failed (laughs).
Rapper & Producer
Sugaās future goals
Iām able to walk on the path of music, itās because of my brother, whoās 4 years older than me. Under my influence, my brother started to like Hip-Hop too. No one supported me in my family when I went to audition, except for my brother. They donāt approve of making music. My relatives even said to me: āwhat can you achieve from making music, just study properly.ā So, I could only share my songs with my brother, he was my only listener. And I told my brother first when I passed the audition. We have a good relationship just like friends. I donāt usually drink but I drink a bit with my brother. Of course, my family support me now. The relatives that advised me to study even came to ask for my autograph (laughs).
Iāve been thinking lately that I want to be active as a producer. Iām not ambitious about being in the center, I just want to make music. Iām not interested in the entertainment industry, others want to either act or be on variety shows, but I donāt (laughs). Above all, I think the most important for BTS right now is to achieve #1 in Korea and Japan. And, I want to become the best rapper, the best producer. I donāt know how long it will take to achieve that but Iām going to give it a go.
BTS Biography - JiminĀ (Vol.5)
BTS Biography - V (Vol.3)
Trans: KIMMYYANG (from KoreanĀ mondomizel1)
